Thousands in shelters as huge cyclone batters Fiji

PARADISE LOST:：Fiji’s idyllic islands of were rocked by more than 200kph winds as Cyclone Evan moved across the Pacific, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction

Reuters, CANBERRA

Tue, Dec 18, 2012 - Page 5

More than 3,500 people evacuated to emergency shelters in Fiji as the biggest cyclone in 20 years swept across the Pacific island nation yesterday, three days after the storm killed four people and destroyed thousands of homes in nearby Samoa.

Tourist resorts on many of Fiji’s palm-fringed islands have been evacuated and authorities warned people to remain inside shelters as Tropical Cyclone Evan battered the country, blowing over trees and destroying houses.

Authorities said Evan had generated destructive winds, torrential rains and was likely to lead to flooding due to a storm surge as it passes through the northwestern side of the main Fijian islands of Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, with wind gusts of up to 270kph.

The Fijian Weather Bureau said Evan was rated a category-four storm, the second-highest level, and was moving at just 18kph, meaning the destructive winds could last several hours.

Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama ordered public servants to stay at home and put emergency services on standby. Hospitals and health centers have been closed for all but emergency patients.

Power supplies have also been cut to some areas as a precaution against falling power lines, including in the main tourist town of Nadi. Airlines grounded flights to and from Fiji, stranding about 1,900 visitors in the country.

“I cannot stress enough how serious this is. Every Fijian will be affected, but we must take preventative steps now,” Bainimarama said.

Residents and businesses stocked up on food and put up shutters to protect shops and offices. Major roads have been closed and authorities are warning that bridges could be swamped by flood waters.

Schools throughout the country were also being used as evacuation centers, with authorities saying that more than 3,500 people had sought shelter by late yesterday.

The Fiji Times reported that rough seas and ferocious winds had forced a bulk carrier to run aground on a reef near the country’s capital, Suva.

Australia and New Zealand offered support to Fiji ahead of the storm, and have search-and-rescue personnel on standby.